HDTV

[CAgirl]

katyzz said:

cagirl said:

My parents have an HDTV, but not the service. How does the antenna work? Do you hook it up as you would normally? Is there something special you have to do to get it to work? Do you have to have digital cable?

You just hook it up normally, and you do not have to have any kind of cable service. I don't know all the technical terms, but the broadcast channels are required to air their HD channels the same way they do their regular versions.. so ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, FOX, etc., can be picked up in HD with a regular antenna. (if you live near enough to where they are broadcast from) The Discovery Channel, INHD, ESPN, and the like all require HD subscription service.

I'm sure it isn't the same everywhere, but the difference in my area between the regular and HD channels is quite a bit, even with cable.

You can check the reception in your area here. (this site helps interpret the results) It's set up for outdoor antennas, but depending on where you live an indoor one could be all that's needed... I live near Houston and that's what works for me just fine.

Thank you for the help. I'm going to have them do that.

[sjankis630]

Non HD channels come in fine but you start to notice flaws and the non clarity.

I think that this must vary. My buddy has HDTV and his regular digital Cable channels don't look that good at all to me. I notice a lot of lines and the picture just doesn't look clean to me. His set - although great in HD - doesn't scale the 4x3 image of the non HD material well at all. Everyone looks like an Ompah Loompah to me. (short and fat) He and his wife don't seem to notice. I can't remember the set brand.
I am putting off the HDTV as our Cable DVRs suck horribly and while I enjoy the Tivo that I have with Direct TV, there ain't no way I am forking over $800 for just the HD Direct TV box.
I do routinely download and watch HDTV shows on my computer with my 24" Dell monitor.

[Atreides]

Could it be that your friend isn't setting the aspect ratio properly when watching regular TV? Improper ratios lead to weird looking people.

I just got my HD digital box yesterday. It's almost hypnotic watching shows that I normally wouldn't just because they're in HD. Leah Remini sure sweats a lot while filming King of Queens! I can't wait to watch season 2 of Rome in 5.1 sound and HD glory in a couple weeks.

Also, even regular DVDs have more resolution in HD if you're using the right cables. My mom just got a high-def set and, sorry haters, but Sound of Music is gorgeous.

Technically speaking, DVDs aren't true high-def as they're only capable of a 480p image. True high-def is either 720 or 1080 lines of resolution. Upconverting DVD players can enhance that 480p image to a degree using an HDMI or DVI cable but it's not the same. HD-DVDs and Blu-Ray DVDs are another breed and can display in true HD.

[sjankis630]

Leah Remini sure sweats a lot while filming King of Queens!

This just made me laugh a lot. I did notice while over there watching Heroes(?) that one of the actors had a scar that I hadn't noticed before on my non HD 32" and the actress he was talking to in the scene up close looked like she had about 10lbs of makeup on. Some folks will definitely be shocked to see how different some of their stars look upclose on HD (I never realized how much makeup they wear on TV before). sorry I don't normally watch the show so I didn't know the characters.

[kathy1977]

Watching American Idol in HD is a hoot. My God Paula looks like she is about 60 years old. I never thought she looked that bad when I was watching the normal way.

[mariposalabrown]

Oh yes, American Idol is so awesome on HD. The amount of makeup even the boys are wearing is appalling.

And yes, regarding the oompa-loompa people, you have to change the ratios. I was watching Buffy, and was confused why her butt was so big.

Oh, and playing xbox 360 on it is a whole other monster. On the old tv, we couldn't read some of the messages it would tell us in the games. My word, it's unbelievable now. We bought an HD drive for the 360, now I'm spoiled rotten and can barely watch our other regular tv.

[topher]

Xbox360 in HD is awesome. Call of Duty 3 and NHL07 blew me away .

[thesurlymermaid]

Whoo! Just got the HDTV hookup on my 42' plasma. Too bad we can't actually watch the television because we have no place to sit in that room!

[hobocamp]

Question: I'm looking at Samsung 32' HDTVs, and there's a High Definition and High Design version. What's the difference?

[csmolko]

Hobocamp, I really have no idea...but I just want to throw out there that if it is a CRT TV (as in, not an LCD or Plasma) make SURE it's not the Samsung "Slim Fit". I have had a HELL of a time with Samsung about this faulty TV. I got it back in August and after 30 days the picture started badly bowing on the left side and bottom to the point it was cutting off text and the picture was totally whacked. I had a service guy fix it TWICE before it finally got sent off to Samsung...and then they took almost 2 MONTHS to get another TV to me. And guess what? This TV has this weird color bar thing down the side that is noticeable when watching dark/black backgrounded scenes. I just sort of gave up because I no longer want to deal with Samsung, it was a terrible experience. Now we have an antenna but before we were paying an extra $40 a month for the HD service, so I lost $80 with that because there was no HDTV for 2 months, and they refused to compensate on anything. I used to like Samsung, and their TVs DO look great when they are working, but now I'm just really, really cautious and bitter. :\